Duke Routs FSU Despite Flagg Scare
No. 2 Duke demolished Florida State 100-65 despite an early injury scare for star freshman Cooper Flagg, who left in the first half but returned to ease concerns. Duke improves to 26-3 (17-1 ACC) and cements their status as a tournament favorite heading into March.
The injury to Cooper Flagg occurred with 11:27 remaining in the first half when he was poked in the eye. He missed the remainder of the half before returning to start the second, where he scored 12 of his 16 total points in just over 12 minutes of play. The freshman phenom still managed to add six rebounds and four assists in his limited 20 minutes on the floor. Even with Flagg sidelined, Duke extended its lead to 17 points by halftime, propelled by a season-high 21 offensive rebounds that created numerous second-chance opportunities. The Blue Devils were dominant on the glass and demonstrated impressive ball movement, tallying 12 assists on 16 first-half baskets without a single turnover. Isaiah Evans led all scorers with 19 points for Duke, while Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach each contributed 14 points. The victory was another display of Duke's overwhelming depth, coming even as starting guard Tyrese Proctor was sidelined with a knee injury sustained in the previous game against Miami. The win marks a significant milestone for this Duke squad, which has now won nine ACC games by 25 or more points—a new school and conference record. This was also their fifth consecutive win by at least 15 points, tying another school record and solidifying their position atop the ACC standings with a 17-1 conference record. For Florida State, the loss continues a difficult season under first-year head coach Luke Loucks, who took over after Leonard Hamilton's 23-season tenure. The Seminoles, led by Jamir Watkins' 21 points, have now lost three straight games and four of their last five, dropping to 7-11 in the ACC.
